Lately, I’ve noticed Tarot appearing more often in television, podcasts, and social media—a sign that what was once considered mystical or fringe is now finding a place in everyday culture. So, I was pleased to discover that one of my favourite podcasts, All in the Mind, recently featured an episode exploring divination. I often listen to this show on my commute to work, and it’s usually both thoughtful and well-researched. This episode kept up those standards. The first half focused on astrology, while the second turned its attention to Tarot.
The discussion of astrology leaned heavily on the familiar newspaper horoscope angle—a narrow take on a complex subject.
Still, I appreciated that the section on Tarot approached the topic with curiosity and respect, even if it stayed somewhat general in scope.
Titled Divination isn’t scientific, but can it ever be therapeutic?, the episode was hosted by Sana Qadar and featured Professor Susan Krauss Whitbourne (University of Massachusetts Amherst), psychotherapist and Tarot reader Ryan Findlay, and producer Shelby Traynor. Shelby, who has been reading Tarot throughout her twenties, described it as “a great way to reflect on things and set goals.” She explained, “For the most part, they’ll get you to reflect on your past, what it means for the present, and how that might apply in the future.” Despite Shelby’s apparent interest in Tarot for about a decade, she admitted she didn’t know the meaning of the cards and still had to refer to a book for an interpretation when she asked the host to pull a card from the deck. This took away some of the credibility from her role as an ‘expert’ on the subject.
Ryan Findlay observed that Tarot’s reputation is shifting. “I think in this generation of people who have more access to the Internet and different ways of using these tools, there’s a nice movement of looking at it as another form of self-inquiry.” While the episode didn’t delve deeply into Tarot’s history or symbolism, it was refreshing to hear it discussed as a constructive and introspective practice.
Ryan summed it up neatly near the end:
“Throughout the years, Tarot has just proven to me over and over again how valuable and useful and intriguing and entertaining it is as well.”
Shelby echoed his thoughts, saying that readings have helped her accept difficult truths, gain confidence in decisions, and find comfort through ritual. “They’ve been a method of inquiry and a form of self-care,” she noted.
Although the episode had its limitations, it was encouraging to hear Tarot discussed in such a thoughtful and balanced way. Even when mainstream media doesn’t get every detail right, episodes like this reveal its image is shifting from fortune-telling to meaningful self-reflection.
Click here to listen to the podcast or read the transcript.